"Infomercial Gasmask" by ALU

a Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

The voice coos… "Welcome to the wasteland. Close your eyes, Take hold of my hand. I will lead you through the barren streets where paranoid creatures pray in their sleep. You and I will make it through this bitter life. Well make it through tonight…" and you are a willing participant.

This is an incredibly beautiful atmospheric record. Think: a cross between Trespassers William and Portishead.

As you might guess, the music is ambient, electronica with a many layers and a lot of stuff going on. The mysteriously named Alu has an incredible voice that soothes and haunts at once. Vocals aren't her only talent either. She also wrote al the songs here and produced the CD as well.

Lovers of shoegazer and trip-hop music must check out this band.

Stand out songs: Well, really they are all amazing, but "Ghostdream" is downright haunting and "Confession to the Undertaker" is sexy and spooky. "Elegy" has a nice creepy carnival accordion sound on it. Well, I could go on. I imagine that every time I hear this CD I will pick a new favorite. Go get this CD already...really, and play it loudly. MMMMMmmmmmm……….

Posted on October 8, 2004